So Here's What You've Done To Me

[Gamma68]

@thor Thank you for your heroic actions. The documentary was an eye-opener for me. I had no idea so many people were evacuated by ferry boat after 9/11.

For the OP, have you considered looking for a vintage G-1? I was very fortunate to find a very nice one from 1968 on eBay for just over $100. With some persistence and patience, you might just find one there that meets your needs and doesn't break the bank.

 

[Stlawrence]

OK, guys. I know I should get an Aero or order something from Thurston, but I just don't have the resources. I'm leaning strongly toward Pops Leather in Turkey. I know it won't be an authentic G-1, but hell, I'm not an authentic Naval aviator.

What do you guys think of Pops?

 

[Big J]

@thor, 'The greatest thing I ever did in my life'.
Don't put yourself down Thor, I'm sure you're awesome everyday to the people that matter.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

OK, guys. I know I should get an Aero or order something from Thurston, but I just don't have the resources. I'm leaning strongly toward Pops Leather in Turkey. I know it won't be an authentic G-1, but hell, I'm not an authentic Naval aviator.

What do you guys think of Pops?

You can do better than Pop's. Why not go for an original G-1 from Ebay..?? I picked up a nice 1968 Marin Lane a few years ago for $125. It is in great shape.
HD

 

[El Marro]

Ditto what HD and Gamma68 said about picking up a vintage G-1. "E" series jackets from the early seventies are still pretty inexpensive and they are the real thing.

 

[Jeremiah]

Welcome. Great story OP. Try Etsy too. Lots of good stuff there and sometimes even close to home.


Thor, what an amazing story and memory. You are a real hero.

 

[Gamma68]

You can do better than Pop's. Why not go for an original G-1 from Ebay..?? I picked up a nice 1968 Marin Lane a few years ago for $125. It is in great shape.
HD

HD, mine is also a 1968 Martin Lane. Not to hijack this thread, but I'd like to see some pics of yours for comparison.

And for the OP, here's an example of a vintage G-1 (mine) that you can find on the second-hand market. It's a great jacket with lots of history that you just can't get in a new G-1.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Gamma... I will post pics of my ML G1 later this evening. Getting chemo hook up right now.

 

[Gamma68]

Gamma... I will post pics of my ML G1 later this evening. Getting chemo hook up right now.

HD, only if you feel up to it. Wishing you the very best as you fight your battle.

 

[thor]

@thor, 'The greatest thing I ever did in my life'.
Don't put yourself down Thor, I'm sure you're awesome everyday to the people that matter.

Lol! Thanks @Big J; that’s very nice of you to say. The way I intended my quote, “the greatest thing I ever did in my life”, was that I was referring to doing something bigger and greater than oneself.
For the “Boatlift 9/11” video, it was a 3-hour question and answer interview with each individual person for the documentary and then the director edits everyone’s words and statements down to afew “worthy” sound bites that get spliced together into their film.
They edited out many of the details and context of what we said (time considerations as well as some of the more gruesome, explicit recollections) but it is still a very good documentary.

 

[Big J]

@thor, no kidding, what you did was pretty awesome. They can never take that away from you.

 

[tropicalbob]

Lol! Thanks @Big J; that’s very nice of you to say. The way I intended my quote, “the greatest thing I ever did in my life”, was that I was referring to doing something bigger and greater than oneself.
For the “Boatlift 9/11” video, it was a 3-hour question and answer interview with each individual person for the documentary and then the director edits everyone’s words and statements down to afew “worthy” sound bites that get spliced together into their film.
They edited out many of the details and context of what we said (time considerations as well as some of the more gruesome, explicit recollections) but it is still a very good documentary.

Hi, Thor. I just wanted to add my thanks for what you did and also ask if you were affected by the chemicals in the air that day. My cousin was the desk sergeant at the 1st Precinct that day and had to retire because of what it did to his lungs.

 

[thor]

Hi, Thor. I just wanted to add my thanks for what you did and also ask if you were affected by the chemicals in the air that day. My cousin was the desk sergeant at the 1st Precinct that day and had to retire because of what it did to his lungs.

That’s a good question. We had 3 boat captains contract various cancers and pass away since 9/11 but it’s hard to say if it was coincidence or if their cancer was linked to the dust that they were exposed to.

New Yorkers in general and boatmen in particular are stoic, stubborn and tough. Too many suffer in silence and do not go to a doctor until it’s unfortunately too late.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin’s health issue @tropicalbob.

As for my own health, well, let’s just say that I am definitely not in the same condition now as I was before I was exposed to that airborne dust and smoke.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I checked my records and actually I paid $221 for the 1968 Martin Lane. Then $79 for new knits from Flight Suits when they did this kind of work and also the nametag from them which equals $300.

 

[EmergencyIan]

That’s a good question. We had 3 boat captains contract various cancers and pass away since 9/11 but it’s hard to say if it was coincidence or if their cancer was linked to the dust that they were exposed to.

New Yorkers in general and boatmen in particular are stoic, stubborn and tough. Too many suffer in silence and do not go to a doctor until it’s unfortunately too late.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin’s health issue @tropicalbob.

As for my own health, well, let’s just say that I am definitely not in the same condition now as I was before I was exposed to that airborne dust and smoke.

I required a double lung transplant 25 years ago. Because of that, I was talking, recently, with the doctors and staff at the Columbia Presbyterian lung transplant clinic where they told me that a significant part of their lung transplant population has become Ground Zero first responders along with people who lived and worked in that area during that period in time.

- Ian

 

[thor]

Wow, a double lung transplant?!? @EmergencyIan that is an incredible story. I hope everything is going well for you.

At my company of about 300 employees, we have seen about 15-20% of the workforce fall ill in the years following 9/11 with ailments such as lung, bone and skin cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, liver failure, severe red and white blood cell anemia, as well as other less-defined health issues such as PTSD, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, etc.

Are they ALL linked to 9/11? Who can say for sure.

For a relatively small workforce we do seem to have a larger than normal percentage of chronic health issues.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Wow, a double lung transplant?!? @EmergencyIan that is an incredible story. I hope everything is going well for you.

At my company of about 300 employees, we have seen about 15-20% of the workforce fall ill in the years following 9/11 with ailments such as lung, bone and skin cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, liver failure, severe red and white blood cell anemia, as well as other less-defined health issues such as PTSD, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, etc.

Are they ALL linked to 9/11? Who can say for sure.

For a relatively small workforce we do seem to have a larger than normal percentage of chronic health issues.

It's scary, Thor. Right, who knows if it's all related. I'm sure it's a mix.

Well, my transplant was due to a genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. I had the transplant when I was 19. I've done really well with it and even worked as a Paramedic and then got into medical administration. This past year, I've been dealing with cancer and hopefully I'll get out from under it. So far, things are looking good on that front. Just hope it keeps going in that direction.

Thanks again for all you did on 9/11.

To the OP, forgive my taking the thread off track today.

- Ian